Deuteronomy30
English Standard Version
1And when you, the and the , I have you, and you them to among the the Lord your has you,
2and to the Lord your , you and your , and his in I you , with your and with your ,
3then the Lord your will your and have on you, and he will you the the Lord your has you.
4 your are in the of , the Lord your will you, and he will you.
5And the Lord your will you into the your , that you may it. And he will make you and your .
6And the Lord your will your and the of your , so that you will the Lord your with your and with your , you may .
7And the Lord your will these your and you.
8And you shall the of the Lord and his I you .
9The Lord your will make you in the of your , in the of your and in the of your and in the of your . the Lord will in you, he in your ,
10 you the of the Lord your , to his and his that are in of the , when you to the Lord your with your and with your .
11 I you is too you, is it .
12It is in , that you should , will to for us and it to us, that we may it and it?
13 is it the , that you should , will the for us and it to us, that we may it and it?
14 the is you. It is in your and in your , so that you can it.
15 , I have you and , and .
16If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I you , by the Lord your , by in his , and by his and his and his , then you shall and , and the Lord your will you in the that you are to take of it.
17But your , and you will , but are to and them,
18I to you , you shall . You shall live in the you are going the to and .
19I and to against you , I have you and , and . Therefore , you and your may ,
20 the Lord your , his and holding to him, he is your and of , that you may the the Lord to your , to , to , and to , to them.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Deuteronomy 30.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Mercies promised to the repentant. (1–10). The commandment manifest. (11–14). Death and life set before them. (15–20).
vv1-10
In this chapter is a plain intimation of the mercy God has in store for Israel in the latter days. This passage refers to the prophetic warnings of the last two chapters, which have been mainly fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, and in their dispersion to the present day; and there can be no doubt that the prophetic promise contained in these verses yet remain to come to pass. The Jewish nation shall in some future period, perhaps not very distant, be converted to the faith of Christ; and, many think, again settled in the land of Canaan. The language here used is in a great measure absolute promises; not merely a conditional engagement, but declaring an event assuredly to take place. For the Lord himself here engages to “circumcise their hearts;” and when regenerating grace has removed corrupt nature, and Divine love has supplanted the love of sin, they certainly will reflect, repent, return to God, and obey him; and he will rejoice in doing them good. The change that will be wrought upon them will not be only outward, or consisting in mere opinions; it will reach to their souls. It will produce in them an utter hatred of all sin, and a fervent love to God, as their reconciled God in Christ Jesus; they will love him with all their hearts, and with all their soul. They are very far from this state of mind at present, but so were the murderers of the Lord Jesus, on the day of Pentecost; who yet in one hour were converted unto God. So shall it be in the day of God's power; a nation shall be born in a day; the Lord will hasten it in his time. As a conditional promise this passage belongs to all persons and all people, not to Israel only; it assures us that the greatest sinners, if they repent and are converted, shall have their sins pardoned, and be restored to God's favour.
vv11-14
The law is not too high for thee. It is not only known afar off; it is not confined to men of learning. It is written in thy books, made plain, so that he who runs may read it. It is in thy mouth, in the tongue commonly used by thee, in which thou mayest hear it read, and talk of it among thy children. It is delivered so that it is level to the understanding of the meanest. This is especially true of the gospel of Christ, to which the apostle applies it. But the word is nigh us, and Christ in that word; so that if we believe with the heart, that the promises of the Messiah are fulfilled in our Lord Jesus, and confess them with our mouth, we then have Christ with us.
vv15-20
What could be said more moving, and more likely to make deep and lasting impressions? Every man wishes to obtain life and good, and to escape death and evil; he desires happiness, and dreads misery. So great is the compassion of the Lord, that he has favoured men, by his word, with such a knowledge of good and evil as will make them for ever happy, if it be not their own fault. Let us hear the sum of the whole matter. If they and theirs would love God, and serve him, they should live and be happy. If they or theirs should turn from God, desert his service, and worship other gods, that would certainly be their ruin. There never was, since the fall of man, more than one way to heaven; which is marked out in both Testaments, though not with equal clearness. Moses meant that same way of acceptance, which Paul more plainly described; and Paul's words mean the same obedience, on which Moses more fully treated. In both Testaments the good and right way is brought near, and plainly revealed to us.
Key Words
כֹּל: properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
אֵלֶּה: these or those
דָּבָר: a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
בּוֹא: to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
עַל: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
בְּרָכָה: benediction; by implication prosperity
קְלָלָה: vilification
אֲשֶׁר: who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
נָתַן: to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
פָּנִים: the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.)
Cross References
Deuteronomy 30Paul explicitly applies the 'not in heaven' and 'very nigh' language to the Gospel of Christ.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Paul quotes this verse directly to describe the word of faith which is in the mouth and heart.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB
Connected to the promised future gathering and spiritual restoration of all Israel through the Deliverer.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The earlier command to circumcise one's own heart is here promised as a sovereign work of God.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Nehemiah explicitly quotes this promise of gathering those scattered to the uttermost parts of heaven.
Supported by JFB
Identifies the circumcision of the heart as the spiritual circumcision made without hands by Christ.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Echoes that God has not spoken in secret or obscure enigmas, but clearly and understandably.
Supported by John Calvin
Christ's work gathers together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel promise of the New Covenant where God writes His law directly onto human hearts.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel prophetic promise of spiritual regeneration, replacing a stony heart with a heart of flesh.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Contrasts God's rejoicing over them to destroy them with His renewed rejoicing over them for good.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The foundational presentation of the blessing and the curse that Moses set before the people.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Solomon's temple prayer directly anticipates this sequence: sin, exile, calling to mind, and repentance.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Paul adapts the 'who shall go up' concept to 'who shall descend into the deep'.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Earlier promise that they would find God in exile if they searched with all their heart.
Joshua practically applies Moses' charge, demanding the people actively choose whom they will serve.